Sex difference in antibody response of CFW mice to Candida albicans.

Bilaterally gonadectomized and control unilaterally gonadectomized male and female CFW mice were given a course of Candida albicans vaccine, and the agglutinating antibody response was measured. The mean titers in the control females were higher than those in the control males. Bilateral gonadectomy did not affect the mean titer in the females but in the males resulted in a significant increase in the antibody. Similar groups of mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with viable C. albicans, and 10 weeks later antibody was measured and the kidneys were cultured. There was no apparent relationship between the degree of the agglutinin response and either gonadectomy or renal candidiasis at autopsy.